United Health Foundation Launches $3 Million Partnership with Active Minds to Help Address The Youth Mental Health Crisis
October 12 2022 - 07:00AM
Business Wire
The three-year commitment will address
increases in youth mental health challenges revealed by the 2022
America’s Health Rankings® Health of Women and Children
Report.
The United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), is making a $3 million commitment
over three years in partnership with Active Minds, a leading
nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and
education for young adults.
With 19 years of impact, and a presence at more than 1,000
campuses, schools, communities and workplaces nationwide, Active
Minds is reducing the stigma around mental health, creating
communities of support and saving lives. This funding will enable
the organization to launch a pilot program in 50 school districts
across Minnesota, North Carolina and Florida to better serve youth
mental health at the middle school level for the first time.
This new partnership will address key findings from the United
Health Foundation’s 2022 America’s Health Rankings Health of Women
and Children Report. Released today, the report reveals sharp
increases in youth mental health challenges:
- Anxiety among children ages 3-17 increased 23% between
2017-2018 and 2020-2021. In 2020-2021, anxiety affected roughly 5.6
million children ages 3-17 — an increase of more than 1 million
children since 2017-2018.
- Depression among children ages 3-17 increased 27% between
2017-2018 and 2020-2021. In 2020-2021, depression affected roughly
2.5 million children ages 3-17, an increase of over a half a
million more children than in 2017-2018.
- The teen suicide rate increased 29% at the national level
between 2012-2014 and 2018-2020 among 15- to 19-year-olds.
“Many mental health disorders can start by age 14, so it’s
critical that we provide promotion, prevention, and early
intervention strategies to equip younger adolescents with the
necessary tools and coping skills to proactively manage and care
for their mental health,” said Alison Malmon, executive director
and founder of Active Minds. “Just like many other illnesses,
mental health promotion strategies can be powerful tools for
helping young people thrive.”
Funding from the United Health Foundation will enable Active
Minds to address these challenges. Building on Active Minds’
evidence-based approach to improving the mental health of college
and high school students, the pilot program will address middle
school students’ social and emotional needs, improve attitudes
related to mental health, decrease stigma, and increase a student’s
likelihood to help a friend with mental health challenges.
Following the pilot, Active Minds plans to launch middle school
programming nationwide.
“Our young people are the future of healthy, strong communities.
We look forward to helping youth gain skills to help counter the
alarming increases we are seeing in youth mental health,” said Dr.
Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare Employer
and Individual. “We must work together to expand evidence-based
solutions to help our young people thrive.”
For more information about the 2022 America’s Health Rankings
Health of Women and Children Report, visit
www.AmericasHealthRankings.org.
About the United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and
outreach efforts, the United Health Foundation works to improve our
health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and
enhance the well-being of local communities. The United Health
Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in
1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving
health and health care. To date, the United Health Foundation has
committed more than $700 million to programs and communities around
the world. To learn more, visit www.UnitedHealthFoundation.org.
About Active Minds
Active Minds was founded in 2000 by Alison Malmon following the
suicide death of her older brother. Now, Active Minds has a
presence at more than 1,000 campuses, schools, communities and
workplaces each year. Active Minds was cited in The U.S. Surgeon
General’s Advisory “Protecting Youth Mental Health” as a best
practice program, and the organization recently participated in the
inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House. In
2021, Optum partnered with Active Minds to support a study on the
well-being of those in the hospitality industry as part of the
Active Minds’ @ Work program.
About America’s Health Rankings
For over three decades, America’s Health Rankings® has assessed
the nation’s health and provided data-driven insights to support
better health outcomes and build healthier communities. Produced by
the United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings evaluates a
comprehensive set of health, environmental and socioeconomic data
to illuminate both health challenges and successes, determine
national and state health benchmarks and enable stakeholders to
take action in improving health.
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Caroline Landree UnitedHealth Group 651-308-2481
caroline.landree@uhg.com
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